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C.J. Easter understands the value of physical fitness. As a former defensive back who faced some of college football's most fearsome offenses during a four-year stint with the Stanford Cardinal, he could only be as effective as he was lean. With visions of sleek physiques in mind, Easter earned his personal-training certification from the American Council on Exercise, founded Performance Science Training Institute, and set to work devising a fitness system of his own.

The gym's exclusive Metabolic Movement Training (MMT) System is the result of all that hard work. The system is designed to jump-start the metabolism, so it continues working long after the session is complete by helping the body burn fat all day long. After a dynamic warmup to boost flexibility and coordination, trainers lead students through progressive resistance training to strengthen bones and muscles. Next, exciting, short-burst cardio intervals work to condition the heart and lungs and boost endurance, and a final core-training session chisels the midsection. Every exercise includes modifications and progressions to ensure students at every fitness level will glean benefits, and every session ends with a cool-down and stretch to leave bodies feeling better than when they came in.

The institute's team of instructors also augment MMT exercises with counseling on how to make responsible nutritional decisions and set goals that are both challenging and achievable. This all-over approach doesn't simply help people get fitter; it helps them remake their entire lives in a healthier, happier image.

Groupon Guide

The stereotypical Silicon Valley job might require you to sit in front of a computer for 8–12 hours a day, but that doesn’t mean that the region’s populace isn’t active—and it certainly doesn’t mean San Jose gyms are struggling. Peek into 24 Hour Fitness San Jose at any time day or night and you’re likely to spot members hoisting free weights and straining against TRX equipment. But when it comes to building muscle, exercise is only part of the story. It’s just as important to eat a proper diet, one rich in nutrients that help you bulk up and light on foods that hold you back. Here are some of the things your body needs to get bigger.ProteinLike half the body’s dry weight, muscles are largely made of protein, so it makes intuitive sense that protein would be important for muscle growth. Certain proteins do an exceptionally good job of facilitating this: for instance, cottage cheese, eggs, and the protein-powder staple whey contain high levels of leucine, an amino acid that sparks muscle-protein synthesis. It’s also important to note that the body can only process so much protein at a time, so multiple servings throughout the day are better than large amounts all at once.CarbohydratesAt the same time, you don’t want to force your body to rely solely on protein to meet its energy needs as you work out. For that, you’ll want lots of carbohydrates so your body has fuel to burn without sapping your developing muscles. That’s why many nutritionists recommend snacking on foods with easily digestible carbs—think bananas, whole-grain breads, and energy bars—about 30–60 minutes before hitting the gym.Fruits and VegetablesAside from contributing the energy you need for working out, fruits and vegetables can also help build muscle in another way. Or rather, they can help keep the muscle you’ve already built from wasting away. That’s because the potassium found in foods like potatoes, spinach, and (again) bananas counteracts the incremental buildup of acids in the body—acids that trigger loss of muscle tissue, especially as we age.
FatsFats are only necessary in moderation. After all, when the body is performing high-intensity, resistance-based exercise such as weightlifting, it bypasses fat in the body’s pantry and reaches for carbohydrates first. It’s also a bad idea to load up on fatty foods before you exercise. Since the body processes fats relatively slowly, they may cause you to feel lethargic or even cramp up during your routine.

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